Quick News: Mary, Noxon, Moon, Dead

Mary Poppins Returns
A month out from release, Disney has unveiled a new featurette for Rob Marshall’s “Mary Poppins Returns” which looks at the casting of the anticipated sequel, the elaborate musical numbers, the extended animation sequence and more.

Emily Blunt takes on the iconic role from P.L. Travers’ books made famous by Julie Andrews in the original 1964 film. Rob Marshall helms the film set in 1930s London as Jane Banks (Emily Mortimer) and Michael Banks (Ben Whishaw) are now grown-up with Michael still living in the house on Cherry Tree Lane with his three children and a housekeeper named Ellen.

After Michael suffers a personal loss, Mary Poppins comes back to the Banks family with street lamplighter Jack (Lin-Manuel Miranda), and eccentric cousin Topsy Turvy (Meryl Streep). The film is slated to open in cinemas late December.

Marti Noxon
Emmy-nominated writer, producer and director Marti Noxon (“Sharp Objects,” “Mad Men,” “Buffy The Vampire Slayer”) has signed a multi-year overall deal with Netflix to produce new series programming exclusively for the streaming giant. Additionally, Netflix will have a first-look option on Noxon’s feature projects through the pact, as well. Noxon marks the latest high-profile television creator to make the move to Netflix following similar pacts with Ryan Murphy, Shonda Rhimes, and Kenya Barris. [Source: Variety]

Over the Moon
Sony Pictures Imageworks (“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” “Hotel Transylvania”) has been set as the lead animation vendor for Pearl Studio and Netflix’s animated musical adventure “Over the Moon” to be helmed by Oscar-winning animator Glen Keane (“Dear Basketball”). The film will hit in 2020 theatrically in China, and on Netflix around the rest of the world.

Audrey Wells (“Shall We Dance,” “Under the Tuscan Sun”) penned the animated musical adventure feature film about a girl who builds a rocket ship and blasts off to the moon in hopes of meeting a legendary Moon Goddess. When she gets to the ‘other side’ she unexpectedly discovers a whimsical world filled with fantastical creatures – some of whom threaten her and others who ultimately help her find her way home. [Source: ]

The Walking Dead
Sunday night’s episode of AMC’s “The Walking Dead” finally introduced, albeit still in a cryptic way, The Whisperers who can be heard in the final moments of the episode which have now been made available online. Considered the greatest antagonist of the comic series, they are people who dress in the skins of the walkers and can move amongst them.